Senior Kasie Fisher and junior Elaine Abazia are two students who are taking opportunities to grow in their majors and their personal life through seasonal jobs and shadowing this summer.

Fisher studies photography at the University and has been in the program for two years ever since she switched from graphic design. Even though Fisher did not start off in photography, she has still always had a passion for it.

“It wasn’t practical for me at first,” Fisher said. “But when I had to make that decision to change my major, it seemed like the right one.”

Fisher said she has been interested in photography ever since she would see parents come and shoot event photos at her school almost 10 years ago. One of these photographers happened to be Fisher’s neighbor, Annette Bryant, who she is now shadowing this summer around the Cincinnati area to gain more experience.

Fisher has had the chance to photograph different weddings and help set up shoots while working with Bryant. In addition, Fisher said she has a very trustworthy relationship with Bryant and that Bryant trusts her with many tasks such as photographing the groomsmen by herself at a wedding.

“She would just send me off on my own, so I was excited that she was able to trust me with doing that,” Fisher said.

Even though Fisher is gaining photographic experiences this summer, she is not counting it as an actual internship and said that internships are not mandatory for her major.

“We can do an internship but it’s not required,” Fisher said. “We take it upon ourselves to learn in the real world.”

Fisher plans to spend her upcoming last year at the University to prepare for her final portfolio once she completes her current shadowing experience. In addition, Fisher hopes to build a portfolio thesis for a BFA showcase where she can be selected to display up to 10 of her most important photos as well.

“I feel like I know the world differently through photography,” Fisher said. “I like being able to see the world through a lens.”

In Florida, Abazia is currently working at Disney World as a result of her previous internship through the Disney College Program that she completed in Spring 2012.

Abazia is a computer science major and said she originally wanted to work at Disney World because she had always been a fan and has taken trips there with her family for many years.

“Even though the internship was far away from where I live, I knew it would be worth it,” Abazia said.

Abazia works as a ride operator for Rockin’ Roller Coaster and is responsible for tasks such as interacting with people in line and loading and unloading people onto the ride. Abazia said being a ride operator has been helpful as a computer science major because it has allowed her to work with the Imagineers and learn different mechanics of the ride.

“We have to know how the ride works in order to run the ride,” Abazia said.

Abazia hopes to get an internship with the Imagineers after she graduates in 2016.

Furthermore, Abazia said that working at Disney World has allowed her to meet people from all around the world and learn more about interacting with people.

“When I first started, I was shy around people that I didn’t know,” Abazia said. “Now presentations and public speaking are nothing for me.”

Abazia said that having to interact with customers has also taught her what to do whenever people are dissatisfied.

“They don’t always understand why you can’t help them,” Abazia said. “The more options you give someone and the more calm you are with them, the less they will yell at you.”

Fisher and Abazia both show that summer is a time for students to not only enjoy themselves, but also to do things that will help them grow and enhance the college phase of their life in return.

“I am grateful for the learning experience,” Fisher said.